MINSK, 16 February (BelTA) – The Belarusian government has set key export growth targets for 2017. This is envisaged in Resolution No. 138 by the Council of Ministers of 15 February 2017, BelTA learned from the press service of the government.

Belarus seeks to increase goods and services export by 3.8% in 2017 as against 2016, which is in line with the decree on social and economic development targets of the Republic of Belarus for 2017. This export growth target is also based on the analysis of the Belarusian foreign missions into the volume and structure of Belarus' exports to their host countries and opportunities for building up the supplies from Belarus.

Commodities export growth in 2017 will be a key performance indicator for the heads of Belarus' diplomatic missions abroad and the officials tasked with promoting the relations with specific countries. In particular, Belarus' export of goods (excluding crude oil, petroleum products and nitrogen fertilizers) to Azerbaijan is forecast to increase by 120% as against 2016, to China by 15%. Belarusian supplies to Kazakhstan, Moldova, the Netherlands, Turkey, Finland, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Vietnam, Mongolia, and Ethiopia are predicted to go up by 10%. An 5% increased is expected in the shipments to Russia, the United States, Cuba, Kyrgyzstan, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Nigeria and several other countries.

The performance of the government bodies and other state organizations subordinated to the government, regional executive committees and Minsk City Hall in achieving the export diversification target will be assessed against ‘the share of exports to new promising markets in the total merchandise export' calculated for each government body separately, taking into account the performance in 2016 + 5% growth in 2017.

The heads of Belarus' diplomatic missions abroad have been instructed to secure a monthly percentage increase in the exports of goods compared to the same period in 2016.

The national government bodies and other state organizations subordinate to the government, oblast executive committees and Minsk City Hall have been instructed to meet the monthly performance targets.

It is also expected that the implementation of action plans to boost trade, economic and investment cooperation with other countries by ministries, concerns, oblast executive committees and Minsk City Hall jointly with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will contribute to the fulfillment of the performance targets.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been tasked with monitoring the implementation of the program. Quarterly reports will be submitted to the government.